School Bars Coach Accused of Sexual Misconduct
COSTA MESA — Officials at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District said Friday they have barred volunteer football coach Robert Allen Harrington from Estancia High School while police investigate allegations of sexual misconduct.
Harrington, 55, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of showing sexually explicit videos to two boys on separate occasions and molesting one of the boys.
“We issued a letter similar to that which we would issue to employees, which asks him to stay away from the campus until the matter is resolved,†Supt. Mac Bernd said.
Bernd added that officials at the district, who reported the accusations to police, were shocked.
Harrington was arrested after police searched his home. He was later released on $50,000 bail.
Harrington’s son Michael, also a volunteer football coach at Estancia, has taken a leave of absence.
Estancia High School officials and the Harrington family have declined to comment on the arrest.
Harrington is scheduled to appear in Municipal Court in Newport Beach on the two charges on Sept. 30.
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